736 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
‘overcame them by furprife and ftratagem; and that an. 
other clan, the Denguis, in like manner maintained 
the war againft Facilidas, Hannes I. and Yafous II. all of 
them active princes. Their riches, however, are ftill great- 
er than their power, for though their province in length is 
no where 60 miles, nor half that in breadth, yet Gondar and 
all the neighbouring country depend for the neceflaries of 
life, cattle, honey, butter, wheat, hides, wax, and a number 
of fuch articles, upon the Agows, who come conftantly i in 
fucceffion, a thoufand and fifteen hundred at a time, loaded 
with thefe commodities, to the capital. 
_ As the dependence upon the Agows is for their produce 
rather than on the forces of their country, it has been a 
--maxim with wife princes to compound with them for an ad- 
ditional tribute, inftead of their military fervice; the ne- 
-ceflities of the times have fometimes altered thefe wife 
regulations, and between their attachment to Fafil, and af- 
terwards to Ras Michael, they have been very much redu- 
ced, whereby the ftate hath fuffered. 
Tr will naturally occur, that, in a long carriage, fuch as 
that of a hundred miles in fuch a climate, butter muft 
melt, and be in a ftate of fufion, confequently very near 
putrefaction ; this is prevented by the root of an herb, cal- 
led Moc-moco, yellow in colour, and in fhape nearly re- 
fembling a carrot; this they bruife and mix with their but- 
ter, and a very {mall quantity preferves it frefh for a confi- 
derable time; and this 1s a great faving and convenience, for, 
fuppofing falt was employed, it is very doubtful if it would 
anf{wer the intention; befides, falt is a money in this coun- 
4 as try, 
